Oil-well seal



Feb. 3. 11925.

Filed July 16, 1923 J. L. CAMERON OIL WELL SEAL 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Feb. 3. 1925. 1,525,368

J. L. CAMERON OIL WELL SEAL Filed July 16, 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Ol 23 Z .6

Feb. 3. 1925. I 1,525,368

J. L. CAMERON OIL WELL SEAL Filed July 16, 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 e T 0 all whom it may concern:

in wells drilled by the rotary process Patented Feb. 3, 1925.

UNITED STATES JARRET L. CAMERON, 0]? ORANGE, TEXAS.

OIL-WELL SEAL.

Application filed July 16,

Be it known that I, JARBET L. CAMERON],

a citizen of the-United States, residin at Orange, in the county of Orange and btate .ofi' Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Oil-Well Seals, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

' This lnvention relates to oil well seals and more particularly for a seal of the type u'jsfed or stopping oil the large casing of the well to the smaller casing. l

In the drilling of oil wells by the rotary process it is customary to seat the large casing which is employed initially in the last strata of firm gumbo or hard formation, the well being drilled down from this formation to the oil-sand by a smaller drill, a small size casing being inserted in the opening formed by this smaller drill. It is accord ingly necessary to seal this small casing to the large casing above it. In performing this operation it is necessary that a seal be employed which for the greatest efliciency in sealing must, when in position, be spaced from the adjacent wall of the casing so as to provide a clearance between its surface and the adjacent surface of the large casing, so that the well may be washed and dirt and mud forced from about the screen at the lower end of the smaller casing may pass upwardly about the smaller casing through the space between the seal and the adjacent f ace of the large casing and so from the well. For this purpose a space of approximately clearance about the seal is desirable. It will, accordingly be obvious that a considerable expansion of the seal is necessary for proper engagement between the seal and large casing. It will furthermore be obvious that some means must be provided for introducing water through the seal and under pressure to the lower casing so that this water may wash the dirt from about the screen of the smaller casing. Such seals usually employ a longitudinally shiftable member, which by its shifting expands a resilient member against the, walls of the larger casing. In order to accomplish this what is known as the-setting tool is employed.

An important object of this invention is to provide a setting tool afiording means 1923. Serial No. 651,865.v

for sealing the upper end of the seal and means for directing water through the seal.

A further object of the invention is to improve the general construction of the seal, to prov de a devlce which is simple and durable ln its construction, readily operated and which will be a general improvement in the art. These and. other objects I attain by the constructlon shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of Figure 3 is a view showing the sealing operation completed;

Figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional view taken through the setting tool and seal as combined;

Figure 5 is a side elevation of the stationary member of the seal, the locking ring {oeing shown in position thereon in dotted lnes;

, Figure ,6 is a detached sectional view through the bowl of the movable sleeve;

Figure 7 is asect'ion on the line 7-7 of Figure 6;

Figure 8 is a section on the line 8-8 of Figure 4;

Figure 9 is an enlarged side elevation partially in section of the setting tool;

Figure 10 is an enlarged sectional view on the line 1010 of Figure 4; and

Figure 11 is a section taken through the dogs of the setting tool showing the same expanded.

The seal proper comprises a stationary sleeve 10, a vertically movable sleeve 11 a locking device 12 for the vertical sleeve to lock the same in position upon the stationary sleeve, a locking device 13 for locking the stationary sleeve to the large casing C, an

expansible packing element 14, a locking device 13 for the expansible packing and means 15 for normally holding the movable sleeve against -movement with relation to th stationary sleeve. The stationary sleeve 10 is threaded at its lower end, as indicated 2 y I I v I at 16. Spaced from this threaded portion the sleeve is provided with an upwardly tapering enlargement 17,- the spacing providing a wrench receiving portion 18 to whicha wrench may be applied'to fasten the lower end of the stationary sleeve into the smaller casing C of the well. At the lower end of this tapered portion an outstanding flange 19 is formed providing an upwardly facing shoulder 20. Abovethe tapered portion a portion of the length of the stationary sleeve is provided with ratchet screw threads,-as indicated at 21. The upper end of the stationa sleeve is interiorly screwthreaded with eft-hand screw threads, as indicated at 22. Immediately below the interior'screw threads the stationary sleeve has formed therethrough a plurality of cir-' cumferentially spaced threaded openings 23,.

the purpose of which will presently appear.

The movable sleeve 11 comprises a bowl section 24 and a sleeve extension 25 for the bowl section, the upper-end of the bowl section being interiorly screw-threaded, as at 26, for coaction with the screw-threaded exterior of the lower end 27 of the extension 25. Through the threaded portions of the bowl and extension 25 are formed coasting threaded apertures 28 and 29, corresponding in number and arrangement to the openings 23 of the stationary sleeve 10 and' 'coacting therewith to receive the locking elements 15, hereinbefore referred to. These locking elements preferably consist of threaded screws of brass or some similar material which may be readily sheared. The bore 30 of the lower end of the bowl is such that it has a sliding fit with the' upper end of the stationary sleeve 10 and the bore of the extension 25 v likewise has a sliding fit with this stationary sleeve. The bore of the bowl tapers u-pwardly from its lower end, as indicated at 31, and when positioned about the sleeve this taper of the bore forms a housing for the locking member 12'between the walls of the bowl and the adjacent face of the stationary sleeve. This locking member 12 consists of Y the ratchet threads 21 of the a split ring having a straight inner wall and a downwardly tapering outer wall, the ring being provided upon this inner wall with ratchet screw threads 32 coac-ting with the ratchet threads 21 of the stationary sleeve 10. The upper end of this ring during downward movement of the movable sleeve 11 is abutted by the lower end of the extension 25 and this ring is accordingly moved downwardly, expanding to permit its passage .over stationary sleeve. After moving downwardly any up ward movement of the ratchet sleeve is prevented bv reason of the fact that the tapered Walls of the bowl engaging against the tapered face of the split ring will force the dicated at venting upward movement of the locking ring 12 and accordingly upward movement of thebowl and extension forming the movable sleeve 11.

v The lower end of the bowl is provided with a downwardly taperingporftion 33 snnilar to the tapered portion 17 of the enlargement of the stationary sleeve 10, the upper end of this tapered portion terminating in an outstanding shoulder 34. .The locking rings .13 and 1.3 each have a straight outer wall provided with upwardly directed ratchet screw threads 35 and an inner wall having a taper co nding to the tapers 33 and 17. These loc rings are provided with a lapped split joint, in- 36, and accordingly are expansible. The packi member 14 preferably consists of a cylin rical sleeve of fabric reinforced rubber. In assembling the device the ring 13 is first seated upon the taper 17, thepacking element 14 is then applied in position and the ring 13 seated upon the upper endof the packing device, the bowl 24 is then placed in position with its tapered end 33 downwardly and the locking ring 12 inserted in the bowl, then placedin position in the upper end of the bowl and the screws or looking elements 15 directed through the bowl extension and the upper end of the stationary sleeve. In this position it will be seen that the movable sleeve is held against downward movement but that downward movement may occur at any time after the locking elements 15 are sheared. ments are sheared, if the movable sleeve is forced'downwardly by any exterior force. when moved downwardlyit will be locked against return movement by the locking member 12. During this downward movement the shoulder 34 by its engagement against the upper end of the uppermost locking ring 13 will move this locking ring downwardly forcing the packing element 14 and lower locking element 13 downwardly likewise. When the lower locking ring reaches the lower limit of its movement it is expanded so that it is forcedsolidly into engagement with. the casing C, compression of the packing element takes place to cause this packing element to swell outwardly and hen these locking ele-' The extens1on-25 is p i likewise engage against the wall of the cas- '13" when forcibly expanded and engaged against the wall of the casing will be held against return movement by reason of the fact that the ratchet threads thereof will bite into the walls of the casing. These rings being lap-jointed will of themselves in the extension 25 the upper end of the threaded socket 39 for the reception of the head being enlarged to form a downwardly extending shoulder 38 to abut the upper end of the extension 25 and} limit the downward movement of the head in the extension. The upper end of thehead is provided w1th a lower end of a drill pipe P. The lower end of the headis provided with a redmced tubular extension 40, the lower end of which is interiorly and exteriorly screw-threaded. The bore 41 of the tubular extension extends through the head 37 and communicates with the socket 39. The lower end of the head about the tubular extension is cupped to form a depending marginal flange 42. The exterior threads of the lower end of the extension are engaged by a collar 43,

the upper end of which is cupped to provide an-upwardly' directed marginal flange 44.

'The lower .end of the collar is exteriorlyscrew-threaded with left-hand screw threads for coaction with the left-hand screw threads 22 formed upon the interior of the upper end of the stationary sleeve 10. The

numeral 45 designates a dog retainer'com-'- prising a member having a borerotatably receiving the tubular extension 40 of the head 37. The external diameter of this member is the same as the external diameter of the head, as regards its central portion. The end portions of the member are reduced in diameter, as at 46,'so that they will be rotatable within the on portions of .the

head 37 and collar 44. T 's member is pro-' vided with longitudinally extending slots 47 1 housing dogs 48. Each dog 48 comprises a 'body portion 49 of a length equal to the distance between the adjacent faces of the marginal flanges 42 and 44 of the head and collar, the'body portion being provided at its upper end w1th an extension flange 50 slightly less in thickness than the distance between the base of the groove 47 and the adjacent face of the flange 42 and at its lower end with a flange 51 which is muchthinner. The under surface of the 'dog is recessed. as at 52, to provide a housing for a flat spring 56 which urges the dog outwardly in the groove. It will be seen that withdrawn position. -.With the parts in the position shown in this figure and with the lower end of the stationary sleeve connected to the smaller casing, the device is lowered into the well until the smaller casing C is properly seated at which time the packing element 14 willbe opposed to the large casin C adjacent the lower end thereof. The we his then washed by introducing water under pressure through the drill pipe P, which water passesthrough the bore 41 of the extension to the wash plpe P to act upon the screen of the well, not herein shown). Afterthe. washing of th well is completed the setting tool is released from the stationary sleeve-by; rotating the same in a right-hand directionfthus releasing the lefthand threaded engagement between the setting tooland'the upper-end of the stationary sleeve without dist-urbin the engagement of the stationary sleeve wit the casing C. It

upwardly by the use of the drill pipe. By

this upward movement the dogs are released and forced outwardly by their springs so that they assume a position whereupon lowering of the setting tool their lower ends will come into engagement. with the upper end of the extension 25. The setting tool is then dropped or otherwise brought into forcible engagement with the upper end of the extension 25, the engagement bein accomplished by the expanded dogs. This orcible engage 'ment will cause the locking pins 15 to be sheared,permitting the movable sleeve 11 to move downwardly to compress the packing and expand the locking rings in the manne: hereinbefore set forth.

It will be obvious that by the use of apparatus constructed in accordance with my inventionall of the necessary operations in the sealing of the well may be accomplished by a single structure and that a permanent seal is afforded by this structure. It will furthermore be obvious that the construction hereinbefore set-forth is capable of considabl'e change and modification without in any manner departing from the spirit of my invention and I accordingly do not limit myself to such specific structure except as here: inafter claimed; Y

I claim I 1. An oil well seal comprising a stationary sleeve, a movable sleeve mounted on the stat-ionary sleeve, frangible means normally preventing movement of the movable sleeve, a packer carried by said stationary sleeve, means shiftable with the movable sleeve in one direction and locking the movable sleeve against movement with relation to the stationary sleeve in the op osite direction, members carried bythestationary and movable sleeves engaging opposite \ends of said packer to compress the same; during movement of the movablesleeve in the first named direction and means at opposite ends of the packer expanded during compression of the packer for engagement with the casing to engage the casin and maintain the packer in compresed position.

2. An oil well seal comprising a stationary sleeve, a movable sleeve mounted on the sta tionary sleeve, frangible means normally preventing movement of the movable sleeve, a packer carried by said stationary sleeve, means shiftable with the movable sleeve in one direction and locking the movable sleeve against movement with relation to the stationary sleeve in the opposite direct-ion, memberscarried by the stationary and movable sleeves engaging opposite ends of said packer to compress the same during movement of the movable sleeve in the first named direction, said members comprising split rings having ratchet teeth upon their outer surfaces and engaging tapered portions of said stationary and movable sleeves.

3. An oil well seal comprising a stationary sleeve, a movable sleeve mounted on the stat-ionary sleeve, frangible means normally preventing movement of the movable sleeve, a packer carried by said stationary sleeve, means shiftable with the movable sleevein one direction and locking the movable sleeve against movement with relation to the stationary sleeve in the opposite direction, members carried by the stationary and movable sleeves engaging opposite ends of said packer to compress the same during movement of the movable sleeve in the first named direction, and means engaging the upper end of the stationary sleeve for supporting the stationary sleeve during lowering thereof into the well, said means providing a bore ermitting the introduction of fluid theretllrough to the stationary sleeve, said means being'disengageable from the stationary sleeve and when disengaged vertically movable with relation thereto and cxpansible dogs carried by said means for expanding upon elevation thereof above the upper end 0 the movable sleeve to engage against the upper end of the movable sleeve to force the same downwardly.

4. An oil well-seal comprising a stationary sleeve having ratchet screw threads, a movable sleeve mounted on the stationary sleeve, frangible means normally preventing movement of the movable sleeve, a packer and members carried by said stationary and movable sleeves engaging opposite ends of said packer to compress the same during movement of the movable sleeve in said direction. f s

5, An oil well seal comprising a stationary sleeve having ratchet screw threads, a movable sleeve mounted on the stationary sleeve, frangible ing movement .of the movable sleeve, a packer carried by said stationary sleeve. means shiftable with the movable sleeve in one direction and locking the movable sleeve against return movement with relation to the stationary sleeve, comprising a split ratchet ring for coaction with the ratchet threads of the stationary sleeve housed within a recess formed in said movable sleeve. and members carried by said stationary and movable sleeves engaging opposite ends of said packer to compress the same during movement ofthe movable sleeve in said direction, movement of the movable sleeve in said direction expanding said members for engagement With the casin to thereby prevent expansive movement 0? the packer after compression thereof.

6. In an oil well seal, a stationary sleeve adapted at its lower end for connection with 7 the well casing and screw-threaded at its upper end, a second dinally of the stationary sleeve, a packer compressed by movement of the second sleeve shiftable longitu-" means normally prevent- I sleeve and mounted upon the stationary sleeve, a dog carrier disposed within the second sleeve having dogs expanding upon withdrawal of the carrier from the sleeve to prevent return of the carrier to the sleeve, and a support for the seal rotatably directed through the dog carrier and engaged with the threads of the stationary sleeve.

7. In an oil well seal, a stationary sleeve adapted at its'lower end for connection with the well casing and screw=threaded at its upper end, a second sleeve shiftable longitudinally of the stationary sleeve, a packer compressed by movement of the second sleeve and mounted upon the stationary sleeve, 1

a dog carrier disposed within the second sleeve having dogs expanding upon withdrawal of the carrier from the sleeve to prevent return of the carrier to the sleeve, and a support for the seal rotatably directed through the dog carrier and engaged with the threads of the stationary sleeve, said support including a part limiting the expansion of the dogs of said carrier.

ed at its upper end, a second sleeve shiftable longitudinally of the stationary sleeve, a packer carried by the stationary sleeve and compressed by movement of the second sleeve upon the stationary sleeve, a dog carrier disposed within the second sleeve comprising a cylindrical member rovidcd in its periphery with longitudina ly extending slots, dogs disposed within said slots, springs locked by the base of the slots and the dogs for forcing the dogs outwardly, and a support for the seal rotatably directed through the dog carrier and engaged with the threads of the stationary sleeve.

9. An oil well seal comprising a stationary signature. tion with the well casing and screw-thread-fii sleeve adapted at its lower end for conneced at its upper end, a second sleeve shiftable longitudinally of the stationary sleeve, a packer carried by the stationary sleeve and compressed by movement, of the second sleeve upon the stationary sleeve, a dog carrier disposed within the second sleeve comprising a cylindrical member provided in its periphery with longitudinally extending slots, dogs disposed within said slots, springs locked by the base of the slots and the dogs for forcing the dogs outwardly, and a support for the seal rotatably directed through the dog carrier and engaged with the threads of the stationary sleeve, said support including parts surrounding the ends of said dog carrier to limit the movement of the dogs thereof.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my J ARRE-T L. CAMERON. 

